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Trump floats ‘getting rid’ of FEMA as he visits western NC • NC Newsline

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ncnewsline.com – Galen Bacharier – 2025-01-24 12:23:00

SUMMARY: During a visit to western North Carolina to assess Hurricane Helene’s damage, President Trump suggested potentially eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), stating it has been a “big disappointment” and proposing a direct payout system for states. He criticized FEMA’s bureaucracy and slow response times, implying that local governments should manage recovery independently. Trump also mentioned plans to reform FEMA via an executive order. While he acknowledged the challenges from the disaster, including misinformation, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein expressed gratitude for Trump’s visit and requested additional relief funds. Critics, like Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross, opposed Trump’s idea to abolish FEMA.

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Democratic AGs allege Trump administration is freezing federal funds despite court order • NC Newsline

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ncnewsline.com – Jennifer Shutt – 2025-02-08 06:33:00

SUMMARY: Democratic attorneys general filed an emergency motion asking a federal judge to enforce a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration, alleging it has failed to comply with a court ruling regarding federal funding. They highlighted confusion over the suspension of various financial assistance programs and noted that important initiatives, such as Head Start programs and NIH grants, have been halted. U.S. Senator Patty Murray emphasized the negative impact of this funding freeze on local economies and employment. The judge has requested a response from the Department of Justice by Sunday amid ongoing debates over the funding situation.

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Cross-country storm set to bring more snow to Northeast

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www.youtube.com – ABC11 – 2025-02-07 19:18:09


SUMMARY: The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating tornado damage in Deer Lodge, urging people to avoid the area. In Kentucky, an EF1 tornado caused destruction in Hart County, while a wintry mix affected New England, leading to multiple accidents on I95. Massachusetts Turnpike faced tractor-trailer incidents, and Connecticut officials warned about maintaining safe distances on the roads. Pennsylvania reported stranded vehicles amid approaching storms expected to bring significant snowfall to Minnesota and Wisconsin, with winter storm watches issued for parts of New York and New Jersey. In California, heavy rains caused landslides, resulting in two fatalities and dramatic rescues. Meanwhile, the South experienced record-high temperatures.

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The storm that brought heavy rain and mountain snow to the West Coast is making the trek across the country to bring a significant snowstorm to the Northeast this weekend.

https://abc11.com/post/nc-weather-forecast-raleigh-durham-fayetteville-north-carolina/44993/

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All Buncombe County river debris cleanups should be finished by June 1, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says • Asheville Watchdog

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avlwatchdog.org – JOHN BOYLE – 2025-02-07 18:32:00

Unsightly debris that has plagued mountain rivers since Helene’s destructive flooding Sept. 27 will be removed by June 1, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Friday, and that includes downed trees and vegetation as well as vehicles, appliances and other storm debris.

“So we’ve got pretty clear guidance from the state as well as FEMA, in terms of our target goals, to get this mission completed,” Corps Col. Brad Morgan told a press gathering Friday afternoon at the Swannanoa River. “So the mission you see behind me, the waterway mission, our target for completion is June 1.”

That includes all waterways in 25 counties, Morgan said. In Buncombe County, that means the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers, which were deluged with fallen trees, ruined vehicles, propane tanks and other detritus, are scheduled to be cleaned up by June 1.

The deadline for the Corps’ private property debris removal mission is June 30, Morgan said, and April 1 for right-of-way debris removal.

“So that’s very loud, that’s very clear — those are the dates that FEMA, the Corps of Engineers, and the state of North Carolina, as well as some of the other counties (that) are also using their own contracts, their own capability, to work the debris — we’ve all agreed to these dates, and we’re all working to push to meet those dates right now,” Morgan said.

Morgan said river debris removal work started in Buncombe County on Feb. 1, and 16,000 cubic yards of debris were cleared in six days along about two miles of river. The Corps estimates it will have to remove 1 million cubic yards of debris by June 1, although Morgan said that number will likely rise.

From left, Rob Ray, a vice president with the primary debris removal contractor, AshBritt, and U.S. Army Corps Col. Brad Morgan addressed the media on Friday at the Swannanoa River. // Watchdog photo by Starr Sariego

Morgan, as well as Rob Ray, a vice president with the primary debris removal contractor, AshBritt, and Buncombe County Solid Waste Manager Dane Pedersen, addressed the news conference. They previously had given elected officials and city and county officials a tour of the work.

They stood by the Swannanoa River off Old Farm School Road, where two large Ponsse timber machines crawled through the river behind them, snatching up fallen trees and limbs and placing them into a hopper for removal. 

“Obviously, we’re continuing to ramp up our staff and our crews,” Morgan said. “We expect to have 10 working by this weekend, with another 20 to 25 within the next week.”

Work on French Broad in RAD to begin soon

Work on the French Broad River in the River Arts District will start soon, but Morgan said because the river is deeper there they’ll have to bring in different types of equipment, including small barges. 

Morgan and Ray said contracts were in place before President Donald Trump visited Swannanoa on Jan. 24, issuing an executive order and vowing to speed up the recovery process. Trump’s order, and another from North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, helped expedite the work, Morgan said.

“FEMA provides me my mission assignments to the Corps of Engineers to do the work,” Morgan said. “So we were extremely close to getting to where we are today prior to the executive order, and that just helped us push over, break through some of those bottlenecks to get actually into what we’re seeing behind me.”

Morgan said the Corps has about $500 million in contracts in place right now for cleanup, “and I expect that number to continue to grow.”

Ray said the flood damage here is the worst he’s seen in 23 years in the industry. His company will double crews to 16 in the area in the coming week, meaning more than 250 workers will be on the cleanup job.

The job is difficult because of the mix of debris present in the river.

“You can very easily see all the woody debris, but in a lot of these piles of that woody debris, you’re going to find household hazardous waste,” Ray said. “You’re going to find crushed vehicles in the larger piles —  basically anything that’s in your home or in a building, we’re going to find in these streams.”

AshBritt has to separate the debris, recycle what’s possible and then take what remains to collection sites in Enka and Beacon Village.

Pedersen said so far about 1 million cubic yards of debris has been removed in Buncombe County.

Amanda Edwards, chair of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, termed the news “significant progress for Buncombe County.”

“I am grateful for the work of the Army Corps, AshBritt and the support from our federal and state officials for keeping their foot on the gas pedal and not forgetting that western North Carolina exists,” Edwards said. “And thank you to the residents of Buncombe County for your patience and reminding us how important this work is to recovery and to rebuilding Buncombe County back even stronger.”

Asked why it has taken more than four months to get the river debris rolling, Morgan said, “It’s been a combination of a multitude of things.” That includes securing permission from private property owners for the debris removal, securing proper entry to the river, conducting site and hazard assessments, and then securing contractors.


Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. John Boyle has been covering Asheville and surrounding communities since the 20th century. You can reach him at (828) 337-0941, or via email at jboyle@avlwatchdog.org. The Watchdog’s local reporting during this crisis is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.

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